Residents hit out at council's active travel route plans

Cycle lanes will become a priority on a number of arterial roads connecting neighbourhoods in North Glasgow under Glasgow City Council's North East Active Travel Routes (NEATR) project.

But residents say they did not feel the council had consulted with them properly about the plans for Northgate, Wallacewell, Balornock, Broomfield and Red Roads.

A petition to stop the planned active travel route project in the ward has been signed by dozens of residents and will be presented to Glasgow City Council.

Councillor Thomas Rannachan (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)

Labour councillor Thomas Rannachan said the plans to expand bike lanes on Wallacewell Road is the biggest single issue he has encountered since being elected.

Previously a dual carriageway, Wallacewell Road would be further reduced to one lane of traffic in each direction under the plans.

A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said the plans were intended to make a wide range of improvements to the area’s transport network.

They added: “These plans for Wallacewell Road and other main routes through the area aim to encourage active travel as the first choice for everyday journeys or view public transport as the next best option.”

A NEATR public consultation was carried out in July and August 2018 which received 38 responses that were overall in favour of the project.

A spokesperson for the council said: “A survey conducted as part of the public consultation indicated that walking, cycling, and public transport are the preferred means of transport in the local community and we are very hopeful the forthcoming changes will be positively received in the area.”

Councillor Rannachan said: "People feel ignored and they feel like they were not properly consulted."

Councillor Maureen Burke (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)

Joined by fellow Labour councillors Maureen Burke and Audrey Dempsey, Councillor Rannachan met with Balornock residents on Thursday to speak about the roads.

Resident Joanne Coll said: "In over an hour of standing at Wallacewell Road, only one cyclist has gone past."

People who live in the area agreed the road was derelict and in need of repairs, but said a lot of the damage had happened after bike lanes were widened over the pandemic.

Councillor Audrey Dempsey (Image: Newsquest)

Councillor Dempsey said: "It's a busy road that demands the need for two lanes.

"Damage is happening to the curbs, pavements, and grass verges because large vehicles, buses and trucks are bumping off of them to avoid the armadillos segregating the cycle lane."

Photographs from the road show a large section of the central reservation has collapsed.

Councillor Dempsey added: "The existing cycle lane on Wallacewell Road is never used - it's filthy with litter and leaves.

"The road is highly used with traffic and connects Robroyston, Balornock, Barmulloch, and Bishopbriggs."

Wallacewell Road (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)

Councillors are calling for Glasgow City Council to rethink the plans for the road before work starts.

Councillor Dempsey said: “The constituents of this ward feel seriously neglected because we have not had significant investment for the past 15 years.

"The council shouldn't tell us what is going to work in the area, they should ask us."

A spokesperson for the council said: "We have recently engaged with the local community to set-out in more detail what is involved in the project, which should be complete by summer next year.

"Plans include improvements to footways, junctions, bus stops, pedestrian crossings alongside new tree planting while also helping to address local issues with drainage.

"The plans ensure continued access to all parts of the community for people travelling by car."